Las Vegas Sun

Grenade that cleared courthouse was gag gift for new sheriff

Sally Maxson / Beaver County Times via AP

A novelty gift of a hand grenade, sent to Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy is displayed during a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at the Beaver County Courthouse in Beaver, Pa. Sheriff Guy ordered the county courthouse evacuation as a precaution the day after the box addressed to him was X-rayed showing a grenade shape along with other incoming mail.

Associated Press

Fri, Jan 8, 2016 (12:03 a.m.)

BEAVER, Pa. — A grenade that led authorities to evacuate a county courthouse was a gag gift intended for the newly elected sheriff, authorities said Thursday.

Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy ordered the evacuation as a precaution Wednesday after the box addressed to him was X-rayed along with other incoming mail.

The novelty gift included a disarmed World War II grenade mounted on a plaque with a sign reading, "Complaint department. Take a number." A numbered plastic ticket was attached to the grenade's pin.

The sheriff said he didn't recognize the sender's name.

"When I saw the name on the package, that's the first time I'd seen the name or heard of the person," Guy said.

County detectives quickly tracked down the sender, who explained he was simply a fan of Guy's and wanted to welcome Guy into office with a funny gift.

District Attorney David Lozier said Thursday that the sender won't be charged with a crime because his intentions were innocent. But Lozier issued a warning to others.